Spatial Distribution & Species Diversity
Spatial Distribution & Species Diversity
Where Galápagos whales and dolphins live, and why.
Where Galápagos whales and dolphins live, and why.
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What Are We Studying?
What Are We Studying?
We map where whales and dolphins occur across the Galápagos Marine Reserve, how that distribution shifts with the seasons, and which ocean conditions drive those patterns
Spatial Distribution
Spatial Distribution
Temporal Patterns
Temporal Patterns
We study when species are present and how their occurrence changes throughout the year.
Migration Routes
Migration Routes
We investigate seasonal movements and migration routes between the Galápagos and the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
Map of the Galápagos Marine Reserve showing Spatial Distribution
Why Does It Matter?
Why Does It Matter?
Distribution data shows which waters and which months matter most for each species. It also reveals migratory corridors that extend beyond the reserve, guiding protections in the wider Eastern Tropical Pacific.
How Do We Study It?
How Do We Study It?
Citizen science reports
Citizen science reports
Naturalist guides, fishers, and travelers report sightings with photos and GPS locations. These reports supply 73% of all sighting data.
Photo-identification
Photo-identification
Individual whales are matched by dorsal fin shape, scarring, and pigmentation, tracking movements between countries.
Oceanographic monitoring
Oceanographic monitoring
Sea-surface temperature and current data are compared against sightings to link distribution to ocean conditions.
GIS mapping
GIS mapping
Sighting locations are plotted with GIS software to reveal hotspots and seasonal shifts.
Boat-based surveys
Boat-based surveys
Research cruises record species, group size, and behavior along fixed routes.
What Have We Discovered?
What Have We Discovered?
19 cetacean species recorded in the Galápagos Marine Reserve (2010–2022): 6 baleen whales, 13 dolphins and toothed whales.
The west and southwest archipelago hold the densest concentrations, driven by Cromwell Current upwelling.
8 species are present year-round; the rest are seasonal visitors.
Cold season (June–November) favors baleen whales; warm season (December–May) favors killer whales and dolphins.
El Niño years bring fewer species and sightings; La Niña years bring more.
Seasonal calendar graphic showing peak months for each of the reserve's most-sighted species.
Bar chart of total sightings by species, 2010–2022.
Why Is This Important?
Why Is This Important?
Seasonal and spatial data let managers target protections precisely — for example, timing vessel-speed limits to the months blue whale calves are present. This evidence supported the 2022 Eastern Tropical Pacific marine migratory corridor, which extends protection along the routes whales and dolphins actually travel.
Related Publications
Related Publications
Want to Learn More?
Want to Learn More?
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